Jason Marshall

Wearing his flip flops and blue jeans, looking as shy as any 10-year-old at a party full of strangers, Jason Marshall tries to stay anonymous. Marshall, a hard-nosed defenseman for the Mighty Ducks, has joined his wife, Sonia, at a special party. Sonia works for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Orange County and on this holiday evening, at a small office building in Tustin, 50 families have gathered to receive a gift of food, presents and holiday trimmings.

Mighty Duck defenseman Jason Marshall has run into some bad luck after returning to the team he was with for six seasons -- and his face is proof. Marshall was at practice Tuesday after undergoing surgery Saturday to repair a broken nose. The injury occurred Friday night when a first-period shot from Columbus Blue Jacket forward Jaroslav Balastik deflected off Marshall's stick and hit him in the face. Of the injury, Marshall compares it to feeling as if a big rock is attached to his face.

One game after sitting out because of his coach's decision, defenseman Jason Marshall returned to the Duck lineup Wednesday against New Jersey. Marshall was not upset about missing Monday's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He realized it was a message from Coach Craig Hartsburg to play better. "It's something that happens during the year," Marshall said of being scratched Monday. "I have to play better and work harder. I don't think I've played as well as I can."

Wearing his flip flops and blue jeans, looking as shy as any 10-year-old at a party full of strangers, Jason Marshall tries to stay anonymous. Marshall, a hard-nosed defenseman for the Mighty Ducks, has joined his wife, Sonia, at a special party. Sonia works for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization of Orange County and on this holiday evening, at a small office building in Tustin, 50 families have gathered to receive a gift of food, presents and holiday trimmings.

The Mighty Ducks continued to revamp their defense Monday, trading offensive-minded defenseman Bill Houlder to St. Louis for minor-leaguer Jason Marshall. Marshall, 23, has played only two NHL games but comes to the Ducks with a reputation as a hard-working, physical defenseman in the classic stay-at-home style. He joins veterans Robert Dirk and Tom Kurvers and rookies Nikolai Tsulygin and Oleg Tverdovsky as newcomers in the Duck defense.

Seventy games, zero goals. That was Mighty Duck defenseman Jason Marshall's goal drought going into Thursday's game against the Kings at the Great Western Forum. No one seemed particularly concerned about his lack of offensive production, however. Not Coach Craig Hartsburg. Not right wing Teemu Selanne. And certainly not Marshall. Scoring goals isn't in Marshall's job description. Playing sound defense, throwing hard checks and playing it smart are what the Ducks expect from Marshall.

Mighty Duck defenseman Jason Marshall has run into some bad luck after returning to the team he was with for six seasons -- and his face is proof. Marshall was at practice Tuesday after undergoing surgery Saturday to repair a broken nose. The injury occurred Friday night when a first-period shot from Columbus Blue Jacket forward Jaroslav Balastik deflected off Marshall's stick and hit him in the face. Of the injury, Marshall compares it to feeling as if a big rock is attached to his face.

It has been only four games so far, but defenseman Jason Marshall has staked a claim to the title of toughest Duck. He has been playing despite a bruised left heel, suffered when he was struck by a slap shot Oct. 10 against the Washington Capitals. The swelling has subsided a bit and Marshall isn't limping as much. But he had to modify his skate by cutting out part of the heel in his boot so he could play without pressure on his foot. "Marshall's a tough kid," Coach Craig Hartsburg said.

With a savvy play that led to an assist on the Ducks' first goal Wednesday, Jari Kurri moved into a tie with Guy Lafleur for 12th on the NHL point list with 1,353. Next in sight: John Bucyk with 1,369 points. * Right wing Roman Oksiuta, whose plus-minus has dropped to a team-worst minus-10, wasn't in the lineup. Other healthy scratches: Darren Van Impe and Ted Drury. . . . Defenseman Jason Marshall switched to No. 28, allowing Brian Bellows to take No. 23.

Defenseman Bobby Dollas looked tentative and perhaps a step slow after a monthlong layoff because of a cut tendon in his left forearm. Dollas suffered the injury Oct. 28 against Toronto. "Baby steps," he said of his progress. "I didn't play 30 minutes, but that's probably good right now." I'll play another 20 minutes [tonight at Buffalo] and we'll see how it goes from there." "I definitely feel pretty good. I felt awful early in the game. Game shape and practice shape are two different things."

One game after sitting out because of his coach's decision, defenseman Jason Marshall returned to the Duck lineup Wednesday against New Jersey. Marshall was not upset about missing Monday's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He realized it was a message from Coach Craig Hartsburg to play better. "It's something that happens during the year," Marshall said of being scratched Monday. "I have to play better and work harder. I don't think I've played as well as I can."

Seventy games, zero goals. That was Mighty Duck defenseman Jason Marshall's goal drought going into Thursday's game against the Kings at the Great Western Forum. No one seemed particularly concerned about his lack of offensive production, however. Not Coach Craig Hartsburg. Not right wing Teemu Selanne. And certainly not Marshall. Scoring goals isn't in Marshall's job description. Playing sound defense, throwing hard checks and playing it smart are what the Ducks expect from Marshall.

It has been only four games so far, but defenseman Jason Marshall has staked a claim to the title of toughest Duck. He has been playing despite a bruised left heel, suffered when he was struck by a slap shot Oct. 10 against the Washington Capitals. The swelling has subsided a bit and Marshall isn't limping as much. But he had to modify his skate by cutting out part of the heel in his boot so he could play without pressure on his foot. "Marshall's a tough kid," Coach Craig Hartsburg said.

The Mighty Ducks continued to revamp their defense Monday, trading offensive-minded defenseman Bill Houlder to St. Louis for minor-leaguer Jason Marshall. Marshall, 23, has played only two NHL games but comes to the Ducks with a reputation as a hard-working, physical defenseman in the classic stay-at-home style. He joins veterans Robert Dirk and Tom Kurvers and rookies Nikolai Tsulygin and Oleg Tverdovsky as newcomers in the Duck defense.

Detroit's Sergei Fedorov was suspended Saturday for at least two games by the NHL for checking Jason Marshall of the Mighty Ducks from behind. Fedorov, who will have a hearing Monday, sat out Saturday's game at St. Louis and also will sit out today's game against Buffalo. The hit came during the first period Thursday night when Fedorov, playing his 13th game since ending a long holdout, delivered a blindside hit that sent Marshall headfirst into the boards.

It's not often a team on a 12-game unbeaten streak shakes up its lineup, but the Ducks will make an exception for veteran defenseman J.J. Daigneault, who has completed his 10-game NHL suspension and will play tonight against Colorado. "We'd better not lose. There will be only one person to blame--him," defenseman Bobby Dollas teased. "I'll survive. I'll be OK," Daigneault said. "But that's a good test for me. I'm going to have to be ready."